Region 3 RDC implementing measures to alleviate flooding

The recent heavy rainfall has led to the flooding of a number of low-lying areas in Region Three (West Demerara – Essequibo Islands), including Canal Number One, West Bank Demerara, but the Regional Administration has committed to continue its efforts to provide further relief to the residents.
During a visit on Thursday at Canal Number Two, within the Stanleytown and Belle West area, Region Three Executive Officer (REO) Denis Jaikaran, and  Deputy Regional Executive Officer (DREO) Jennifer Ferriera-Dougall, along with Regional Engineer Vaughn Solomon, took a first-hand look at the excavation works currently ongoing.

Speaking with the Department of Public Information (DPI), Jaikaran reiterated that efforts will continue to be implemented to alleviate flooding in the affected areas.
“We (Regional Administration) are going to continue to be on top of this situation, and we are going to continue to provide resources in an effort to have relief and the lowering of the water in the Canal (Number One) as well as Canal Number Two, so that the people of both areas will have a level of relief,” he promised.
The REO stressed that “additional drains, as requested by councillors, will be dug for the satisfaction of the residents.” He noted that should there be any additional requests made, he would have same facilitated, once it is within his ambit.
He noted that discussions are ongoing between the relevant stakeholders to find a way forward for the health and benefit of the residents, and highlighted that other issues of critical importance regarding drainage and irrigation within the region — to prevent occurrences of flooding — are in the pipelines of the capital and recurrent projects slated to be executed this year.
On December 28, 2017, officials from the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), and Region Three visited Canal Number One and began delivering assistance to some 200 families whose homes and farmlands were extremely affected by heavy rainfall.
Three sluices were fully functioning along with two additional pumps, to accommodate discharge of water from the affected areas into the Demerara River. A team from the Public Health Ministry also visited the Manram Memorial Health Centre in Canal Number One, to ensure it is equipped with the necessary drugs to address a possible outbreak, and to prevent flood-related illnesses.
The lower part of Canal Number One Polder, WBD, has been flooded since December 20, 2017. However, residents say the reason they experienced such severe flooding is because the main drainage canal has been neglected for some time. The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, which has responsibility for the Canal only, began cleaning it one week ago, following the flooding.